Umbrella lock



Oct. 3l, 1950 E. KATZBERG UMBRELLA LOCK Filed Sept. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. KATZBERG UMBRELLA LOCK Oct. 31, 1950 Filed Sept. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V lNvENToR. fge/7e azzerg ORNEY.

Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UMBRELLA LOCK Eugene Katzberg, New York, N. Y.

Application September 26, 1946, Serial No. 699,527

3 Claims.

This invention relates to umbrella. locks and more particularly to a novel and improved runner and shaft having positive lock means which are automatically actuated to lock the runner in either open or closed position, in combination with a release mechanism which is actuated by a simple movement of the hand.

An object of the invention is to provide an umbrella runner and shaft having novel and improved details of construction and features of operation,

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordance with the present invention the runner includes lockingrmembers such as balls which are normally urged inwardly into recesses formed in the shaft at open and closed positions. When in these recesses the members positively lock the runner against movement. They are released, however, by axial pressure on a springpressed sleeve and when released the balls are free to slide on the umbrella shaft between the recesses.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the nature of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain specific embodiments thereof have been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of an umbrella shaft and runner embodying the present invention; l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the runner and shaft of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale showing the same in unlocked position;

Fig.' 3 is a section similar to Fig, 2, but showing the runner in locked position;

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken on the lines lI-tl of Fig. 2 and 5-5 of Fig. 3 respectively;

Figs. 6 and 'l are longitudinal sections similar to Fig. 2 showing further embodiments of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-8 of Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the invention is shown as applied to a runner IU carrying umbrella rib struts II and adapted to slide longitudinally on a tubular umbrella shaft I2 which is preferably made of metal. The umbrella shaft and struts are of standard construction except as hereinafter specified. Only so much thereof has been shown herein as is necessary to an understanding of this invention.

The runner I0 comprises a tubular slide I5 (Figs. 2 to 5) which is adapted to slide on the shaft I2 and is provided at one end with a radial flange I6. The slide I5 is provided with a plurality of holes II in which retaining balls I8 are inserted. 'I'he balls I8 are larger in diameter than the thickness of the slide I'5 and are held against the shaft I2 by means of a sleeve 20 which has a surface 2I` adapted to slide snugly upon the slide I5 and is provided with a bore forming a recess 22, which when in registry with the balls I8 provides clearance for allowing the same to ride along the shaft I2 as shown in -Fig. 2. The bore terminates in a cam surface 23 which is adapted to press the balls I8 inwardly. A spring 24 engages the bottom of the slide I5 and an inturned lip 25 on the sleeve 20 to normally urge the sleeve downwardly so as to cause thecam surface 23 to maintain inward pressure against the balls I8. Acylindrical cover 30 is attached to the ange I6 and extends downwardly over a portion of the sleeve 20. The cover 3i] is provided with an inturned lip 3l having a central opening in which the sleeve 2l] slides andv which is adapted to engage a shoulder 32 formed on the sleeve 2i) to limit the downward movement thereof. The cover 30 carries an index ring 35 in which the rib struts II are pivoted by means of a wire 36 in accordance with standard practice.

The shaft I2 is shown as provided with upper and lower annular recesses or grooves 31 and 38 respectively which are adapted to receive balls I8 for locking the runner in open or closed positions.

In the operation of this device, when the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 2, with the spring 24 compressed the slide I5 is free to slide along the shaft I2. The runner ID is thus free to be raised or lowered until the balls I8 are brought .into registration with one of the recesses 31, 38.

In the position shown in Fig. 3 the balls I8 are in registry with the recess 38. It will be noted that as soon as the balls I8 enter the re cess 38 the spring 24 forces the sleeve 20 downwardly, thereby positively holding the balls in the recess 38 and locking the runner against axial movement. The umbrella is thus locked in closed position.

In order to open the umbrella it is only necessary t'o press upwardly on the sleeve 2U thereby bringing the recess 22 opposite the balls I8 and permitting the balls to be retracted out of the recess 33, whereupon the runner l is free to slide along the shaft i2 until the balls enter the groove 3l. When this occurs, the spring 24 again forces the sleeve 29 downwardly and locks the umbrella in open position.

Referring now to the embodiment of Fig. 6, the construction is generally similar to that of Figs. 2 to 5 and the parts have been given similar reference numerals. This embodiment diiers from the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 5in that the spring 4l of Fig. 6 is mounted above the sleeve 20 between the end of the sleeve 29 and the llange le and the inturned liange 25 of Figs. 2 and 3 has been replaced by a bead 52 which may be made of a colored plastic and forms a convenient hand grip for operating the sleeve 2D.

In the embodiment of Fig. 'l the construction is again similar to that of Figs. l to 5 except that the sleeve d3 of Fig. l is of a diameter throughout to slide snugly over the slide l and is provided with an annular embossed bead i4 forming a central recess 45 to receive the balls I8. The recess 45 is shaped to urge the balls i8 inwardly in response to the pressure of a spring 46 which is seated between the outer bead lil and a shoulder 41 formed on the slide l5. In this embodiment the slide l5 carries a ring 59 and a cover 30 carries a ring 5l which are separated by a ring 52 to form the index means for securing the rib struts ll The operation of this form is identical with that described above.

It will be noted that in all of the above embodiments a positive lock is produced as the runner cannot4 beV moved until the retaining means has been retracted from the recesses in the umbrella shaft. When so retracted, however, the runner slides along the umbrella shaft with a minimum of friction. Hence the device works smoothly and readily for opening and closing the umbrella and yet provides a positive lock in both positions. lThe sleeve may be of a length to extend beyond the ends of the ribs when the umbrella is closed so that the bead i2 (Fig. 6) or the ends of the sleeves may be readily accessible without placing the hand within the connes l of the umbrella.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have-been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various uses and that changes and adaptations may be made therein as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be restricted in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An umbrella lock comprising an umbrella shaft and runner, said shaft having peripheral recesses at spaced points corresponding to open and closed positions of the runner, said runner comprising a slide mounted to slide on said shaft and having means carrying umbrella rib struts, a retaining element carried by said slide and adapted to enter said peripheral recesses when in registry therewith, a sleeve slidable on said slide between locking and releasing positions, said sleeve having a surface to engage and retain said element in said recesses when in locking position and having a recess to receive said element when in releasing position, and spring means normally holding said sleeve in locking position, and a cover carried by said slide projecting over a portion of said sleeve and having stop means to limit the outward movement of said sleeve.

2.1An umbrella lock comprising. an umbrella shaft and runner, said shaft having peripheral recesses at spaced points corresponding to open and closed positions of the runner, said runner comprising a slide mounted to slide on said shaft and having means carrying umbrella rib struts, a retaining element carried by said slide and adapted to enter said peripheral recesses when in registry therewith, a sleeve sliclable on said slide between locking and releasing positions, said sleeve having a surface to engage and retain said element in said recesses when in locking position and having a recess to receive said element when in releasing position, spring means normally holding said sleeve in locking position, a cover carried by' said slide projecting over a portion of said sleeve and having stop means to limit the outward movement of said sleeve, and a bead on said sleeve beyond said cover to form a hand grip for actuating said sleeve.

3. An umbrella lock comprising an umbrella shaft and runner, said shaft having peripheral recesses at spaced points corresponding to open and closed positions of. the runner, said runner comprising a slide mounted to slide on' said shaft and having means .carrying umbrella rib struts, a retaining element carried by said slide and adapted to enter saidr peripheral recesses when in registry therewith, a sleeve Slidable on Said slide between locking and releasing positions, said sleeve having a surface to engage and retain said element in said recesses when in locking position and'havingranV axially elongated recess to receive said element whenv in releasing position, said elongated recess being adapted to allowsubstantial axial movementof 'said' sleeve relative to saidslide for releasing said element, and stop means to limit the movement of said sleeve on said slide.

EUGENE KATZBER-G.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are Vof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 960,169 Hall May 31, 1910 2,139,193 Lamothe et a1. Dec. 6, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,379 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1903 429,924 Great Britain June-4, 1935 700,057 France Feb-24, 1931 

